The Co-operative group has unveiled the UK's first 100% recycled plastic shopping basket.

Made from plastics that would usually be sent to landfill or incineration, the new basket will be rolled out to 1,000 stores by the end of the year and the remainder of the group in 2011.

Co-op commercial director Sean Toal said: "We're proud to be at the forefront of green product innovation, and we're sure our customers will welcome the new generation of shopping baskets, which, as well as being kinder to the environment, are much easier to carry."

This announcement comes as the cost of sending waste to landfill rose from £40 to £48 a tonne from April 1 and is due to increase by £8 a year for the next three years.